Nuclear imagers adjust to to practice without Mo-99

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Diagnostic ImagingDiagnostic Imaging Vol 31 No 10
Volume 31
Issue 10

Nuclear imagers are using alternatives to keep their practices alive until the National Research Universal Reactor at Chalk River, ON, resumes production of Mo-99

Nuclear imagers are using alternatives to keep their practices alive until the National Research Universal Reactor at Chalk River, ON, resumes production of Mo-99. The shutdown has disrupted 60% of radiopharmacies in the U.S., according to an online survey jointly sponsored by the SNM and the National Association of Nuclear Pharmacies.

Only a third of respondents said they have an alternate source of Mo-99/Tc-99m generators, namely manufacturers with access to isotopes produced in reactors outside of North America. About 84% have eluted older generators more often to draw off as much technetium isotope as possible; 82% are using thallium-201 for cardiac imaging; 6% are performing F-18 FDG-PET bone imaging; and about 9% have shifted to F-18 sodium fluoride (NaF). Indium-111 (5%), gallium-67 (2%), and nitrogen-14 ammonia (1%) were also cited as alternatives.

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